HawaWHY? Because it was so fun!

I know it's been a VERY delayed process getting these pictures uploaded, but life has definitely caught up with us. Since we've been home we have been blowin' and goin' non stop (more on that later). I am going to try and knock these out today... We'll see how that goes.

So on our last full day on the island we rented another Jeep... & this time we got a red one. Codi says it's her dream car.

Mom had been wanting to drive up to Pali Lookout, since it was rated the #1 scenic point on Oahu.

& it was breath taking

& it made for an excellent photo op.
Then we headed to the Eastern side of Oahu. Which was absolutely gorgeous.
The waves crashing in...
Another amazing backdrop
Then we ventured to Hunuma Bay. Which was a bit over rated if you ask me. When you have to watch a 15 minute informational video before entering a beach it kinda kills the mood.
Chris & I enjoyed some good reads. I read Lauren Conrad's new book while he read a John Grisham novel.
Hello crazy hair...
Codi talked me into boogie boarding. It was actually really fun, probably because the waves were huge this day.

If you look closely my board was actually upside down. Awesome job, Shan.
We met Nene & Grandad at the Royal Hawaiian for lunch.& cocktails.
Codi & I got a tad-bit simpled out. & caused a scene at the hotel poolFriday night there was a street fair going on because of King Kamea Mea's birthdaySo we went to Jimmy Buffett's at the Beachcomber. It was like a Margaritaville, but with a different name. & yes, Grandad found a new girlfriends.
Dad wanted in on that
Hubbski.
We got conned into this...
& then it got worse. We had to dance alone.

while the audience judged us....
& even Nena did it. She was by far the best of any of us.

She shook it like a Polaroid picture.
Then we shopped at the flea market by our hotel & got lots of treasures to take home.

Japanese drummers.

&&& I love my husband because all week he carried around my silver sparkly beach bag without griping. What a winner.

Snorkel Trip & House Without a Key

So we woke up bright & early the next morning to travel to a nearby harbor & catch a catamaran for a family snorkel trip!We spent our morning at sea
enjoying the sunshine & smooth water. THANK GOODNESS it was smooth
We did a lot of chillin ... which Eddie is excellent at.& enjoyed the marvelous scenery, because nowhere is prettier than Hawaii.We even got to see lots of dolphins swimming free in the ocean.
Eddie estimated between 50-60 dolphins swimming around our boat.There were also some sea turtles After we enjoyed the wildlife we got geared up to go snorkeling. We were loving the awesome flippers they supplied us withAlmost as much as the neon green life jackets. Rad.

Even Grandad snorkeled!!

Our group!
Eddie was the first one in and last one out. But he did get to see stuff the rest of us missed. (an eel, a sea urchant & an octopus!) I tried to do the Titanic pose & Chris dissed me. Bum deal Our whole fam damily.
The Demere Fam.
Match-skis. Great minds think alike... or something like that.
When we arrived back at the hotel it was still mid-morning. So we relaxed, drank mimosas & read some gossip magazines.
Nena & Grandad had enough sun, so they got all prettied up and went out on the town to shopAfter getting our fill of the sun we got fixed up too & we went to the Halekenlani to eat at the House Without a Key.

The House Without a Key was by far my favorite place we ate at this trip. It was elegant, but low key, on the beach with live music & delicious food. I would definitely go back.

Also, the snorkel trip was great, but I would definitely recommend the afternoon trip rather than the morning one. (last time we were in Hawaii we took the afternoon trip) The afternoon trip takes you further around the tip of the island, while the morning one takes you only up the coast a little ways. Basically the secenery further up the coast is fabulous and we were sad do miss it. However, we did see way more dolphins on the morning trip than the afternoon one.

&&& I love my husband because he finally wore the awesome "vacation shirt" I got for him. & he looked adorable in it.